Starring Paralympic TV ad role for blind pianist
BLIND pianist Rachel Starritt got to show the world what she can do starring in an incredible Paralympic Games TV advert.
The 21-year-old prodigy, from Brackla, Bridgend, was one of just three musicians from the UK picked to play in a band made up of musicians and performers with disabilities from across the globe providing the soundtrack to an advert made by Channel 4 to promote its coverage of the games.
More than 140 disabled people – including Paralympic athletes, musicians and members of the public – feature in the piece, set to the iconic Sammy Davies Junior song “Yes I Can”, which Rachel leads from the piano.
The three-minute promotional film by Channel 4 is a follow-up to the multi award-winning ‘Meet the Superhumans’ advert which aired during London 2012.
As the music plays, people with a range of impairments show what they can do, including a mother with no arms holding her baby with her feet, children with prosthetic limbs running, jumping and playing football, a woman flying a plane with her feet and a man driving a rally car with his feet.
Rachel, who was born blind and became the first blind student to study a music degree at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama two years ago, said: “It’s hard to believe I was chosen.
“It’s very important to show what people can do. It’s really important to inspire others.”
Recording at venues across London, the young pianist played with the band at the iconic Abbey Road Studios, a race track, football stadium and swimming pool, getting to know the other musicians like a family over three weeks of filming.
She said: “It was amazing recording at Abbey Road Studios. I could feel the sense of importance there.
“Being with these people with a lot of disabilities made me feel in the same boat and not alone. It’s about abilities, not disabilities.”
One of the most exciting moments was playing at a race track while a rally driver sped around, she said.
The musician, who started learning the piano aged five, got piano grade 8 aged 14 and passed music A-level at 15, had just days to learn the score, but that was no problem.
Her parents Andrea and Clyde, along with her RWCMD piano teacher Alison Bowring, accompanied her to filming.
“They would tell Rachel in rehearsals ‘go from bar 76’ and she just knew what that bar was,” said Andrea.
“The experience she had was amazing. She absolutely loved it.”
Channel 4’s advert will be accompanied by a poster campaign which will roll out across Britain in the run up to the Rio Paralympics opening ceremony on September 7.
The sound track is being released by Universal Music with all profits donated towards the British Paralympics Association.
Hilary Boulding, principal of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, said: All of us at the college are immensely proud of Rachel’s achievements which are considerable.
“Rachel demonstrates her great talent as a pianist and an artist on a daily basis.
“She has shown both courage and commitment in her determination to develop her artistry since she first joined the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama as a 10-yearold student in its Junior Conservatoire.
“It has been a great privilege to witness the flowering of her talent and she is an inspiration to all of us.”